Background: The mental foramen is one of important anatomical features frequently encountered in maxillofacial surgical procedures in premolars area. Its position has been shown to vary according to race. In this study researchers aim to study the position, shape, and appearance of the mental foramen, as seen on panoramic radiographs of Palestinians, and to compare our findings with international values. Materials and methods:A randomly selected panoramic radiographs (368 with 736 sides) from the records of dental patients attending three dental services in north of Palestine, the mental foramina's anterior-posterior position, shape, and radiologic appearance were subjected to analysis. Results:The most frequent anterior-posterior position was in the area between the long axes of first and second mandibular premolar teeth. The most frequent appearance was the continuous type and majority of foramina were rounded in shape. Conclusion:The position of the mental foramen on panoramic radiographs in this selected group of Palestinians was most commonly between the mandibular premolars. The continuous type and rounded shape of the mental foramen was founded in majority of cases. These results are similar to previous findings in Caucasian populations.nerve exiting the mental foramen gives off three branches deep to the depressor anguli oris muscle, one of which innervates the skin of the mental area, and the remaining two innervate the skin of the lower lip, mucous membranes, and the gingiva as posterior as the second premolar [5]. Mesial to the mental foramen, studies were able to confirm the existence of an incisive canal, which can be an extension of the mandibular canal [4,5]. It is usually hard to identify, and its neurovascular structures may be running through the trabecular network. A very small percentage of the population (1%) has bifurcating mandibular canals, which proceed anteriorly into an inferior superior and medial lateral plane [6]. Therefore, the bifurcated mandibular canal will exit in two separate mental foramina. In these case clinicians have to be cautious since a panoramic or perapical film may not reflect it. Furthermore, Dario et al. suggest that the clinicians planning a surgical implant placement procedure above the inferior

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the facial-palatal ridge dimensional changes that occurred at 8-10 months following flapless dual-zone (DZ) immediate implant placement and socket-shield (SS) immediate placement in the maxilla. Materials and Methods: A total of 19 patients who received 20 implants were included, with 10 implants (MegaGen AnyRidge) placed for each treatment, DZ and SS. Cast models were made at 8-10 months after implant placement to assess the dimensional ridge changes by measuring the facial-palatal ridge width on implant sites (T) at six designated points starting from the gingival margin (0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7) and comparing it with the corresponding measurement on the contralateral tooth site (C). Results: All 20 implants demonstrated successful osseointegration at 8-10 months follow-up (survival rate 100%). Two out of ten cases of SS group presented with minor manageable complications of external shield exposure. DZ group showed an average of 0.3 mm facial-palatal ridge width reduction, while SS group revealed a mean gain in ridge width of approximately 0.2 mm at 8-10 months follow-up. Conclusion: When comparing between two treatments, there was a significant difference in ridge width change at 8-10 months following implant placement, indicating better preservation of the ridge contour for socket shield technique.

Background: The socket-shield technique still requires more scientific based evidence to be recommended as everyday clinical practice, the aim of this prospective cohort study was to assess the facial-palatal ridge dimensional changes that occurred after a minimum of 8 months following flapless dual-zone (DZ) immediate implant placement and socket-shield (SS) immediate placement in the maxilla.Methods: A total of 19 patients who received 20 implants were included with 10 implants (MegaGen AnyRidge) were placed for each treatment, DZ and SS. Cast models were made at least 8 months after implant placement to assess the dimensional ridge changes by measuring the facial palatal ridge width on implant sites (T) at six designated points starting from gingival margin (0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7) and comparing it with the corresponding measurement on contralateral tooth site (C). Results: All 20 placed implants demonstrated successful osseointegration and survived 9-24 months following implantation (survival rate 100%). Two out of ten cases of SS group presented with minor manageable complications of external shield exposure. DZ group showed an average facial-palatal reduction of nearly 0.3 mm; however, there were no significant differences between T and C (P =.47), while SS group revealed a mean gain in ridge contour of approximately 0.2 mm with also no significant differences existed between T and C (P = .64) in the 8-months follow-up. When comparing between the two treatments, there were significant differences in ridge width changes (P < .05), indicating better preservation of the ridge contour at 8-months for SS treatment.Conclusion: The socket shield immediate implant placement produced better preservation of the ridge contour at 8-months post-extraction; however, the dual-zone technique yielded non clinically significant reduction in the ridge contour at the same follow-up.